The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-19
Henru ddlard &eecher.
Some Estimates Of the Great Preacher-And
some Estimates also of the Chicago Congre-
gationalists.

some Estimates also OF the Chicago Congre-
gationalists.
Many men in heave9, and many etill
alive owe their conversion un4ler God to
Mr.. Beecher's stirring and heart-search-
ing sermons. He always delighted to
speak of the love of God, and in those
happy days when Jesus Christ and him
cruciied was his all in all, his tender ap-
peals were all but irresistible During
many years ne was in the pulpit and on
the rostrum what Horace G eeley was III
the press. The two men were much alike
in their elements of greatness and in their
follies and weaknesses. b 9TH lost their
stamina with advancing years.
For the good that he has done, for his
hatred Of oppression, for his sympathy
with the suffering, for the powerful aid
he reude ed toward the emancipation of
men, TO- his intense humanity, he will be
long md gratefully tenembe sd by the
American pc jple Interior.
It ought 20 be So! down to The credit
of M. Beecher, too hat he did more
than aay other mau in lis day to broaden
the range of pulpit topics. He emanci-
pated the pulpit from much of the old
narrowness, and showed bow it is posi-
bic to treat social and political and CON
mercial questions from the standpoint Of
Christian ethics. Tue dangers of this
broa ieaing out of ehe pulpit have been
seen, and still are seen, III a tendency in Il
certain class Of shallow minds to sensas
tionalism, but it hardly seems possible
that the pulpit shall ever drift back into
the old indifference 10 the moral 81 lie Of
all questions which concern the welfare
of the masses OF men.-The Adr0ace,
- As preacher he was hkean air plant.
His inspiration was drawn, uot from
books or study, but from an actual OBJ
aervance of and contact with men. The
ideas he gathered thus he reproduced in
dazzling forms. He judged that his mis-
sion and duty as preacher were to ac-
compiish the best pulpit work possible,
and he bent every thing to this. great
head and a great heart, tender, synpa-
thetic nature, quick perception and lent
ent judgment all these enabled him to
see gold 10 mankind, where others e0uld
discover nothing but dr0ss. His very
| presence always struck ne as that OF a
! lion with big heart having power to
smite to the earth, but disdaining to harm
even the weakest.-Th0BdS G. SHear1Ran
(Brookly,1).
MIR. Beecher was one of the most re-
narkable men that this country or this
century has produced. His peculiar ge-
MUS was developed on American soil, "a
it could never have been developed any.
where else. He was the defan der of in
telectual, religious and political liberty
No man iii America has done more, sin
gle handed, to emancip8te orthodox Con
gregationglism from the thrall Of its med
i@eal theology. His work for the free
dom of the slave and for the defense o.
the Union, at home and abroad, should
secure for him the lasting gratitude Of
every lover Of the Republic. Christian
Register
The word sympathy would sweep a
circle around most OF Mr.. Beecher'spatur.
-sympathy for bondage, sympathy for
helplessness, sympathy for trouble That
gave him his power. A big heart alwa5 s
takes anything by storm. Mr.. Beeeher
put stout shoulder under the worlds
burdens, and everybody loves such na
ture. For eighteen years | have seen
him under all circumstances, and never
heard him say a depreciatiuG word about
anybody. He was in good humor with
all mankind. He felt there was room for
all. and if there WAS not he would make
room.-Rer. DeU'it Taimage,
Henry Ward Beecher is dead. The
land is in mourning and the press is
crowded with tributes to the memory Of
the greatest pulpit orator America has
ever produced. The final summing NJ
OF his life will find him a Great Heart
All his instincts were Humanitarian. He
was always willing advocate Of the op-
pressed of every kind and condition. HIS
influence has been mighty power for
liberal things. All honor to the great
preacher, and ali sympathy to the he
reayed family, and to the thousands who
depended upon his weekly ministrations
for their best help IL the life Of the spirit.
Unity
Mr. Beecher had q ieonine braverA
He was not afraid of man or the devil.
With what superb self forgetfalnes5 and
might did ne attack current notion which
dishono-ed the character of God, or de
uounce the proud and apparently iogin-
chile monster Of slavery His impress rs
on the country, ia religious thought. ia
method Of preceding, in all the social
and political progre wa hays made.
The country eau never forget H-ur5
Ward Beeoher. +; Las not YET recorded
agreater uame The Ttd.pcutat
Take him an ID all measure him
brain and heart, Henry Ward Beeclc,
was the greatest man Of his day. Tuis
We are sure will he the verdict Of his -or}.
We are too near for d perspective. l.
will take the perspective 3f a half century
or more To see him IN his true proper
/ tions. Too near, We cannot see the mauI
tain; as it reeedes, Il Crews larger and